BIN and double-slip switches...

[rd4man]

Does the BIN patch (I'm using the first one...1.6) have any effect on double-slip switches? I've got one that will not operate in all directions on the N&JC Route. I can't remember using this switch before the patch, so don't know if it worked then.

[OTTODAD]

Hi !

It's bin a long time since I worked on my copy of the N.&.J.C. but remember them.

I replaced them with [/b]MANUAL[/b] double-slips in the RE I think. Can you give me the co-ordinates of this one and others ?

If they are covered by signals then the can be set to "Manual" in the *.tdb or set to "Manual" with the Switch List utility !

MSTSBin 1.6.1 has nothing to do with tracks yet, but hope that it will eventually, fixing jumping trains caused by closed trailing switches ! ;-)

O t t o

[rd4man]

Thanx for the reply, OTTO. I did not think that BIN would have any effect.

As to "manual", I think ALL switches are manual, are they not? That is unless you set up an activity, but even then I would think they'd still be manual. Anyway, I haven't tried this switch in "Explore" mode yet.....I'll have to do that. My activites on this route are "Explore-type" anyway, having very short Start-End Points so I can go anywhere.

This particular switch is located at the Northeast end of Bay Line Yard.

I'm scared to death to get into the Route Editor!! That is VERY foreign territory for me!!

Road Foreman.

[OTTODAD]

I know how you feel, having been there and done that ! ;-)

Basically all switches are "Manual" in EXPLORE ROUTE Mode but in an activity they behave depending on which type of switch was used.

If it was an "Automatic" one then it will not let you change it if no Player path has been routed through it.

Switch on your Compass Coordinates with the 0 ZERO key and make a note of them when you approach that double slip and let me have them.

O t t o

[rd4man]

The one in question has co-ords of: (from AE)
LON: -73.98458
LAT: 40.86135

The other one is at:
LON: -73.95174
LAT: 40.90255
That one is just SW of Jersey City Terminal

A cursory look at the *.tdb file shows no indication of switches to this untrained eye. I WOULD feel comfortable editing that file if given some direction.

I don't want to route a path through these switches because it's not the same way each time as my activity is a "free-wheel" type.

Hope the above is what you're looking for.

RF

[OTTODAD]

Yes that helped.

Alas my copy does the same in a Freestyle activity but have not noticed it before. It does not in EXPLORE ROUTE Mode, although the F8 indicator showing that the blades have been thrown the blades themselves did not move, but the train is taking the indicated by F8 path.

These double-slip switches are "Manual" and can not remember what Okrasa suggested the solution for this problem is. I think I fixed one of them elsewhere by replacing it with a later version, but re-laying them is not something I would fancy doing either !

O t t o

http://forums.flightsim.com/vbts/up1/112752.jpg

[rd4man]

Yup.....that's the switch in question.

Here's what I get: (hope the formatting comes through!)

1_____________B____________2
/
/
A___________/______________C
/
/
3________/
D

Coming from 2-'B', switch is inop and train only goes to 'A'.
Switch Monitor shows aligned 'B' to 'D', but train goes to 'A'.

Coming from 'A', switch will operate to 'B' or 'C' and Monitor indicates
so, and train will go either way.

Coming from 'C', switch is inop and train only goes to 'A'.

Coming from 3-'D', switch is inop and train only goes to 'C'.
Switch Monitor shows aligned 'D' to 'B', but train goes to 'C'.

Didn't seem to make any difference in "Explore" or in my Free-style activity however.

I couldn't see anything in the *.tdb files that indicated switches tho. I couldn't find any indications of switches in any of the files.

Oh well, guess I'll just have to plan accordingly!

Thanx anyway, OTTO. You can go to sleep now!!

RF

P.S. I see the formatting didn't work. Just slide those four hash marks on the left over and between the 'B' and 'D'. ??

[OTTODAD]

Thanx anyway, OTTO. You can go to sleep now!!

Yep, just about ready for the sack after one more sip of the good stuff ! ;-)

These double-slips are a problem and Okrasa suggests building them with modular switches sections, but is too much work.

I prefer to use Y-Tracks single-, double-slips and three-way switches in my routes !

O t t o

http://forums.flightsim.com/vbts/up1/112760.jpg

http://forums.flightsim.com/vbts/up1/112761.jpg

[rd4man]

>>>I prefer to use Y-Tracks single-, double-slips and three-way switches in my routes !


Easy for you to say. I tried building a route once and it was a disaster! I just don't have the patience for it. I'll leave that to you "professionals" to do.

I would like to be able to use those switches tho. Oh well!

Nitie nite!!

RF

[sniper297]

If you do feel comfortable hacking the TDB file, make a backup and open it in wordpad. Click EDIT, then FIND, type in "TrJunctionNode".

Each "hit" you get will look like:

TrJunctionNode ( 0 73 0 )

or

TrJunctionNode ( 0 216 1 )

First number is always zero, second number defines the type of switch (5D right hand, 10D left hand, etc.).

Third number is what you want, simplicity itself - if it's a one, you can manually control the switch in an activity, if it's a zero you can't. Change all the last numbers to 1 and all switches will be manually controllable. Mind you there will still be a difference in appearance - no switch lever on the converted automatic switch, but you can still throw it.

[rd4man]

The wealth of knowledge that exists on this forum in people like yourself never ceases to amaze me!

Went through 'em all! Do you have any idea how many switches there are on that route?! (N&JC) Must be a million! (SMILE) There were far more in "auto" than I thought, but I've yet to cover this whole route and all its switches!

Amyway, I changed all to "1" as per your instructions and so far it's working! Only strange thing about the slip switch (at least the one in question that started all this) is if you want to go straight through, the switch monitor must show a reverse indication?? But, they work! And that's what I'm looking for.

Thank you soooo much for your research into this! I'm sure I don't want to know what all those other numbers are in that file!!

Road Foreman

[sniper297]

Yeah, that was one of those "I know it has to be SOMEWHERE" deals, so I made a test route, installed a manual and an auto switch, then opened the TDB and TIT files to see where it was. With only a little bit of track it's easier to hunt.

"the switch monitor must show a reverse indication??"

Yep, early Xtracks switches did that. Problem was, KUJU made a 10D right manual switch, but all the other manual switches were left hand only - who knows why, and the slip switch didn't work at all. So when the early hackers were attempting to make a working slip switch they took bits and pieces of left manual switches, so the arrows work backwards. I think the later swtiches Okrasa made display correctly.

[rd4man]

Well as long as I can remember which way to throw the switch as I'm comin' down the line, I'll be alright!

Thanx again.....really appreciate it!

Road Foreman